Timeline of the Fairfax County Public Library

Beginnings

1897 - The Town of Vienna forms a library association
and builds a facility on Library Lane. As of 2009, this original building
still stands on the property of Freeman House.

1899 - The Women's Club of Falls Church establishes a
community library.

Early 1900s - Town of Fairfax establishes a library.

Before 1915 - McLean establishes a library.

First County-wide library (1929 - 1940)

1929 - The first attempt is made to establish a
County-wide library, which was to be located in the old County clerk’s
office when the office was not needed for official County purposes.

1932 – Fairfax County Public Library acquires a
volunteer librarian, Mrs. H.M.F. Palmer. The books and office equipment
are housed in the Old Cavaliers of Virginia Hall, owned by the Fairfax
County School Board, next to the Fairfax Elementary School.

1938 - Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce proposes a
consolidation of library services to the Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors in order to include both urban and rural areas of the County.
Branches are to be established in heavily populated areas and bookmobile
service to all other residents. The Chamber appoints a library committee.

1939 - Fairfax County Free Library is established by
the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The first Board of Trustees is
appointed by the judge of the Circuit Court.

1940

The name Fairfax County Free Library is changed to the Fairfax County
Public Library.

The Board of Supervisors provides land behind the County Courthouse and
a cinderblock building is constructed.

The Board of Supervisors appropriates $250 in March 1940 to help
establish the countywide free library system.

The Fairfax Town Library Board of Trustees is appointed and requests
supplemental funds from the State Library Board under the Federal Works
Progress Administration (W.P.A.).

A separate county library fund is established.

First County-wide bookmobile in a truck loaned by the W.P.A.

First salaried county librarian, John S. Mehler, is named in June.

Book collection moves from the Old Cavaliers of Virginia Hall of the
Fairfax Elementary School to Willard Hall.

1942 - W.P.A. support for the bookmobile ends December
31.

1943 - County purchases a vehicle for bookmobile.

1947 - County purchases a new bookmobile, a customized
school bus.

1950s

1950 - The little cinderblock library on the County
Courthouse grounds is enlarged and renovated.

1954

Thomas Jefferson Library
opens in the back of Buck Carter's Family Barber Shop at 1528 Arlington
Boulevard, Falls Church.

Edwin S. Clay, III becomes Director of the Fairfax County Public
Library.

Great Falls Mini Library opens at 9818A Georgetown Pike, Great Falls,
in a porta-structure kiosk on the property of the Grange Hall.

Central Regional is renamed Fairfax City Regional Library.

1983 – Circulation of materials through the library’s
automation (computer) system is available at all libraries.

1985

The Reston Library becomes two facilities. The Hunters Woods
Mini-Library is in a portion of the space previously occupied by the
Reston Library. A new facility the Reston Regional Library
opens at 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston.